Locomotive boiler



June s, 1943. B. E. Mason. I 2,321,399

LOCOMOT IVE BOILER Filed April 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l orngy June 8, 1943. B. E. LARSON LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Filed April 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 8, 1943 2,321,399 LOCOMOTIVE BOILER 7 Keri E. Larson, Park Ridge, 111., assignor to Locomotive Firebox Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application April 7, 1941, Serial No. 387,251

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in locomotive boilers and it consists of the matters hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The invention is more especially concerned with the construction in a locomotive boiler having a firebox equipped with a water steaming and circulating element that requires the provision of an elongated opening in the crown sheet for its installation. An an example of an element of this kind, mention is made of a thermic syphon. Such an element includes a flat, hollow body having an elongated and usually flanged top. end discharge or outlet, that is secured in an opening in the crown sheet, Such an element also includes at least one tubular inlet neck opening through another sheet of the firebox below the crown sheet.

In the conventional type of locomotive boiler, crown staybolts are employed between the crown sheet of the firebox and that part of the wrapper or roof sheet thereabove and these bolts are generally much longer than the staybo'lts employed between the side sheets of the firebox and the outer side sheets of the boiler shell. The top flange for the body has a widththat is equal to the spacing between four transversely spaced rows of crown staybolts where they are fixed in the crown sheet.

When installing a thermic syphon, this requires the making of an elongated opening in the crown sheet to receive the top end flange of the syphon and this opening generally extends longitudinally of the crown sheet. The standard practice in making such an elongated opening in the firebox is to dispose the center line thereof in line with one longitudinal row of staybolts within the area of said flange. The staybolts in this center row, as well as the rows at each side thereof, within the area of said opening, are then removed, three rows in all being removed.

When the syphon flange is disposed in the opening, the bolts in the side rows in said area are replacedto connectsaid flanges tothe wrapper sheet. Heretofore no crown bolts were employed or substituted for those removed 'from above the outlet opening of the syphon. This transferred the load to the bolts connecting the flanges and the wrapper sheet andtherefore in the replacement of such bolts, bolts of larger diameter were employed. Theremoval and omission of the center line of bolts also inducesan additional load upon that area of the wrapper sheet above its syphon flange and between the side-rows of bolts,

Under boiler pressure the tendency is to spread the top end of .the syphonfbody laterally and this imposed an additional heavy duty upon the top row of staybolts inthe syphon body and in some instances leaks wo'ul d develop at the e'nds of this row of staybolts.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide simple and emcient means for providing a connection 'between' the outlet opening of'the syphon and that part of 'the wrapper .or .root sheet thereabove and whereby saidsheet part is better able to withstand internal boiler pressures.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for this purpose which 'alsofunctions to resist the tendencyof the top end of thesyph'on to spread apart. laterally under boiler pressure and this independently of the top rowof stayboltsin the syphon body,

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide means for this purpose which includes a piv-' otal connection "having an axis disposed in a plane other than parallel with said means as a whole, whereby a limited lateral flexibility is present to accommodate some relative lateral movement between said-part of the wrapper sheet and associated part of the crown' sheet.

The above -mentioned objects of'the invention, as well' as others, together with the advantages thereof, will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View through the firebox end of a locomotive boiler embodying one \form of the-invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through a part of the boiler wrapperor roof sheet'part and adjacent crownisheet .partof the firebox, as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is .a vertical detail sectional view .through certain parts appearing in Fig.2 astakenon the line 3-3 ofsaid Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view,.similar to Fig. 2; illustrating .a modified structure whereby acertainclevls laterito' be described and embodied in the invention .is attached tog-the syphon body.

Fig. 5 issa verticaldetailsectional view through parts shown in Fig. .4; as taken on the linewfi ii thereof.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view illustrating a modified .form .of connection between a crown bolt andclevis thatmay be vadvantageously em.- ployed I in .the invention .when so desired.

Fig. '7 is a detail vertical sectional view through parts shown in Fig. '7 as taken on the line 1--'| of said Fig. 6.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, l indicates as a whole the rear end part of the barrel or shell of a locomotive boiler and inwhich is located a firebox II. The firebox includes a crown sheet l2 which extends from the flue sheet l3 to the back sheet 14 of the firebox and which crown sheet merges at its sides into the side sheets l5 of the firebox, only one of which appears in Fig. 1. The bottom end part of the flue sheet merges into the front throat sheet I 6. I 7

11 indicates that part of the wrapper or roof sheet of the boiler above the crown sheet, [8 indicates the back sheet thereof and I9 indicates the outer front throat sheet. So-called crown bolts extend between and operatively connect the wrapper sheet part II and the crown sheet. These bolts are disposed in rows extending longitudinally and transversely of the firebox.

The wrapper or roof sheet part II merges at its sides into outside wrapper sheets (not shown) that are stayed to and cooperate with the side sheets l5 of the firebox to form the usual side water legs. The sheets I4 and I8 whichare also staybolted together cooperate in forming the back water leg 2| and the inner and outer throat sheets 16 and i9 which are also stay-. bolted together, cooperate in forming the front water legs 22. All of said water legs are bottomed by a mud ring 23.

24 indicates, as a whole, a water steaming and circulating element in the flrebox'and which element in this instance is illustrated as one of the well known thermic syphons. Such a syphon comprises a flat, hollow body disposed in an upright position in the firebox and generally extending longitudinally of the firebox.

The body of the syphon includes spaced side walls 25-25 and front and rear end walls 25 and 28 respectively. The side walls are connected together by longitudinal rows of staybolts 25a. The top end of the side wallsand the front and rear end walls are formed as a laterally extending flange 21 that extends entirely about the top end of the body and said side walls are connected to said flange by a rounded corner 28 arranged in a plane above the topmost rows of staybolts 25a. The flange mentioned defines the discharge or outlet of the syphon through which water passes from the body of the syphon into the steam and water space of the boiler above the crown sheet.

The bottom of said body is closed by a bulged portion 29 that extends in .a downward and forward direction in the firebox and terminates in a tubular inlet neck .30 that opens through the inside throat sheet l6 of the firebox'so as to take in or receive boilerwater from the front throat 22.

When only one of the syphons described is to be installed in a firebox, an elongated opening 3| is formed longitudinally in the firebox crown sheet, of a shape and area corresponding to that of the syphon flange 21. When more than one syphon is to be installed in the firebox,usually a separate opening is made for each one'of said syphons.

As before pointed out, the opening 3| is of a width substantially the same as the spacing between the centers 'of the bolts 20 in fourlater ally spaced rows thereof. In producing said opening, its center line is disposed in the longitudinal plane of the center row of crown staybolts 20 in the crown sheet. Thus owing to the width of said flange 21, three rows of crown staybolts 20 are removed from the crown sheet within the area of said opening. This disposes the edges of said opening midway between adjacent rows of staybolts, and disposes the planes of the rows of such bolts on each side of said center row about midway between the edges of the side portions of the flange.

Before the syphon is installed in the opening thus made, I secure to the top end of the syphon a plurality of transversely extending longitudinally spaced, upright edgewise disposed bridge plates 35, the spacing substantially equalling the spacing between alternate rows of crown staybolts. The side edges of these bridge plates are made to conform to the corners 28 of the syphon and are welded thereto as at 36. The bottom end of said plates terminate in a plane above the topmost row of staybolts of the syphon while the top end extends above the crown sheet.

A bifurcated bottom end of a clevis member 31 straddles the top end of each bridge plate and has a pivotal connection therewith as by means of a pin 38, the axis of the pin in this instance extending longitudinally of the firebox. The closed top end or crotch of the clevis member has threaded thereinto, the bottom end of a bolt-like rod 39 and the bottom extremity thereof may be upset as at 49 to hold this end of the bolt in place.

Instead of making the threaded connection described between the bottom end of the rod 39 and closed top end of the-clevis I may use the structure shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In that construction, the bottom end of the bolt passes loosely through the crotch of the clevis and is made of inverted T shape so as to include a transverse end 40a. This structure provides a limited relative lateral movement between the bolt-like rod and the clevis.

The top end of said bolt-like rod is made to have a so-called universal connection with the wrapper sheet I! and which connection is indicated at 4|. As this universal connection is conventional it is not described in detail herein as its construction is, well known. Instead of the universal connection mentioned, said connection may be of the so-called rigid type.

Previous to installing the syphon in a firebox, it will have attached thereto, the bridge plates, the clevises and the bolt members 39, the connection of the top end of said bolt members being made from outside of the wrapper sheet portion above the crown sheet. Also, in the installation of the syphons a, row of crown staybolts 42 is employed to connect each flange 21 of the syphon body to the wrapper or roof sheet.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a modified arrangement or structure by which the clevises mentioned may be operatively. connected to the syphon body. In this instance, instead of using the bridge pieces 35 and welding the same in place, I employ an attachment member 43 of a tuning fork shape. Its bottom .end is bifurcated to provide laterally spaced arms 44 which fit between and are attached to the inner surfaces of the upper end of the side walls 25 of the syphon body. In said Figs. 4 and 5 rivets 45 are shown as the attachmentmeans. The arms 44 are arranged in the space between the adjacentbolts 25a in the top row thereof in the syphon body and therefore, the rivets connect said arms to the side Walls of the syphon body independently of said staybolts. The top ends of said arms merge into a head 46 which is straddled by the lower bifurcated end of the associated clevis 31a and pivotally connected thereto as by a pin 38a as before.

It is apparent that by means of the structure described, the top end of the syphon is connected to that part of the wrapper or roof sheet I! thereabove so as to provide a mutuality of support. Thus this part-of the wrapper sheet is braced from the syphon against internal pressures in the boiler and the top end of the syphon is braced against depression as well as lateral spreading due to internal boiler pressure.

By means of the pivotal connection as afforded by the pins 38--38a, a limited amount of relative lateral movement of the crown sheet and the roof sheet may take place without harmful effects. This lateral movement is augmented by the universal connection 4| of the bolt-like members 39 with the wrapper or roof sheet.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

'1. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a wrapper sheet, a firebox in said boiler and including a crown sheet spaced below the wrapper sheet, a water steaming and circulating element in the firebox having a discharge end opening through the crown sheet, a member operatively connected at one end to the wrapper sheet and extending toward the crown sheet, a device having a lower portion disposed in and fixed to opposite sides of said element and having an upper portion disposed above the crown sheet, and means connecting said upper portion of said device to the other end of said member and ineluding a pivotal connection, the axis of said pivotal connection being disposed in a plane other than parallel with the axis of said member.

2.,A locomotive boiler embodying therein a wrapper sheet, a firebox in said boiler and including a crown sheet spaced below thewrapper sheet, a water steaming and circulating element in the firebox having a discharge end opening through the crown sheet, a member operatively connected at one end to the wrapper sheet and extending toward the crown sheet, a device having a lower portion disposed in and fixed to opposite sides of said element and having an upper portion 'disposed above the crown sheet, and means connecting said upper portion .of said device to the other end of said member and including a pivotal connection, the axis of said pivotal connection being disposed in aplane at a right angle to the axis of said member.

3. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a wrapper sheet, a firebox in said boiler and including a crown sheet spaced below the, wrapper sheet, a tubular water steaming and circulating element in the firebox including opposite side walls and having a discharge end opening through the crown sheet, staybolts connecting said opposite side walls of said end of said element at a point below the crown sheet, members having lower and upper portions, the lower portion of sa-idmembers extending into the-discharge I end of said element -in-a plane between adjacent staybolts and having opposed surfaces engaged with and fixed to sa-idopposite side walls thereof and holding them against spreading, independently of said staybolts, the upper portion of said members extending above the crown sheet, and means connecting the upper portions of said members to the wrapper sheet.

4. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a wrapper sheet, a firebox in said boiler and including a crown sheet spaced below the wrapper sheet, a tubular water steaming and circulating element in the firebox including opposite side walls and having a discharge end opening through the crown sheet, staybolts connecting said opposite side walls of saidend of said element at a point below the crown sheet; members having lower and upper portions, the lower portion of said members extending into the discharge end of said element in a plane between adjacent staybolts and having opposed surfaces engaged with and fixed to said opposite side walls thereof and holding them against spreading) independently of said staybolts, and means connecting the upper portion of each member to the wrapper sheet, said connecting means having a pivotal connection with the associated member, the axis of said pivotal connection being disposed in a plane other than parallel with the axis of said connecting means.

5. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a Wrapper sheet, a firebox in said boiler and including a crown sheet spaced below said wrapper sheet, a tubular water steaming and circulating element in the firebox including opposite side walls and having a discharge end opening through the crown sheet, staybolts connecting said opposite side walls of said end of said element, other means connecting said opposite side walls of said end of said element together independently of said staybolts and having a part extending above the crown sheet, a member operatively secured at its top end to the wrapper sheet and depending therefrom, and a clevis member operatively connected at one end to the bottom end of said depending member and operatively connected at its other end to that part of said other means disposed above the crown sheet.

6. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a wrapper sheet, a firebox in said boiler and including a crown sheet spaced below said wrapper sheet, a tubular water steaming and oirculat ing element 'in the firebox including opposite side walls and having a discharge end opening through the crown sheet, staybolts connecting said opposite side walls of said end of said element, other means connecting said opposite side walls of said end of said element together independen'tly of said'staybolts and having a part extending above the crown sheet, a member operatively secured at its top end to the wrapper sheet and depending therefrom, a clevis member opertively connected 'atbneend to the bottom end of said member, and means pivotally connecting the other end of said clevis member to that part oi said other means disposed above the crown sheet.

7. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a wrapper sheet, a firebox in said boiler and including a crown sheet spaced below the wrapper sheet, a flat hollow water steaming and circulating element in the firebox and including spaced side walls and end walls defining an elongated discharge opening through and extending in one direction of the crown sheet, staybolts concrown sheet, members arranged transversely of said element and having upper and lower portions, the lower portion of said member extending into the top end of said discharge opening in a plane between adjacent staybolts and having opposed surfaces engaged with and fixed to said side walls and holding them against spreading independently of said staybolts, the upper portion of each member extending above the crown sheet, and means connecting the upper portion of said members to the wrapper sheet.

8. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a wrapper sheet, a firebox in said boiler and including a crown sheet spaced below the wrapper sheet, a fiat hollow water steaming and circulating element in the firebox and including spaced side walls and end walls defining an elongated discharge opening through and extending in one direction of the crown sheet, staybolts connecting said spaced side Walls together below the crown sheet, members arranged transversely of said element and having upper and lower porportion of each member extending abovethe crown sheet, and means including a pivotal connection for connecting the upper portion of said members to the wrapper sheet.

9. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a wrapper sheet, a firebox in said boiler and including a crown sheet spaced below the wrapper sheet, a fiat hollow water steaming and circulating element in the firebox and including spaced side walls and end walls defining an elongated discharge opening through and extending in one direction of the crown sheet, staybolts connecting said spaced side walls together below the crown sheet, members having lower and upper portions, the lower portions of said members extending into said discharge opening between the staybolts and having opposed surfaces engaged with and fixed to said side walls and holding them against spreading, the upper portion of said members extending above the crown sheet, a clevis pivotally connected at one end to the upper portion of each member, and means for operatively connecting the other end of each clevis to said wrapper sheet.

10. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a wrapper sheet, a firebox in said boiler and including a crown sheet spaced below the wrapper sheet, a hollow water steaming and circulating element in the firebox having an elongated outlet opening fixed in and extending longitudinally of the crown sheet, stays connecting opposite sides of said water steaming, and circulating element, a plurality of members having upper and lower portions and arranged in planes between those of the stays at the upper end of said necting said spaced side Walls together below the element, the lower portion of said members extending into the outlet opening and having opposed surfaces fixed to said opposite side walls and holding them against spreading, the upper portion of said members extending above the crown sheet, and a bolt-like member connected at one end by a pin to the upper portion of each member and operatively connected at its other end to the wrapper sheet.

11. A locomotive boiler embodying thereina wrapper sheet, a firebox in said boiler and including a crown sheet spaced below the wrapper sheet, a hollow water steaming and circulating element in the firebox having an elongated outlet opening fixed in and extending longitudinally of the crown sheet, stays connecting opposite sides of said water steaming and circulatingele ment, members connecting opposite sides of said element together independently of said stays, and means extending between and operatively connecting said members and said wrapper sheet, said last mentioned means including a pivotal connection, the axis of which is disposed longitudinally of the firebox to permit a movement of the parts in a transverse direction.

12. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a wrapper sheet, a firebox in the boiler including a crown sheet spaced below the wrapper sheet, a hollowwater steaming and circulating element in the firebox having an elongated outlet opening fixed in and extending in one direction of the crown sheet, stays connecting opposite sides of said Water steaming and circulating element, means extending downwardly into said element from its outlet opening to a point below the topmost stays in said elements, and having surfaces engaged with and fixed to the inner surfaces of said opposite sides of said water steaming and circulating element, and means extending between and operatively connecting said downwardly extending means and said wrapper sheet.

13. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a wrapper sheet, a firebox in the boiler including a crown sheet spaced below the wrapper sheet, a hollow water steaming and circulating element in the firebox having an elongated outlet opening fixed in and extending in one direction, of the crown sheet, stays connecting opposite sides of said water steaming and circulating element, a member disposed in the top end of said element and having upper and lower portions, the upper portion of said member extending above the crown sheet and the bottom portion of said mem-' ber extending downwardly into said element be low the topmost stays in said element and having surfaces engaged with and fixed to the inner surfaces of said opposite sides of said water steaming and circulating element, and means including a pivotal connection extending between and operatively connecting said upper portion of said member and said wrapper sheet.

BERT E. LARSON. 

